2018-02-05_REVISION - C1992081 (29)

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The alluvial material also has relatively low hydraulic conductivity (approximately 0.1 to 0.01 feet/day) due to its high composition of silts and clays. These alluvial waters are of poor quality due to the proximity of the Lewis shale, contributions from agriculture, and the ephemeral nature of Dry Creek (although the applicant reports that water is taken from Dry Creek bellow the Loadout and used for irrigation). Section B, Item III of this document includes a discussion of the PHC of the Loadout and the railway loop on ground water quality and quantity and a further discussion of the ground water monitoring plan. Climate The region is characterized by a semi -arid steppe climatic regime with cold winters and mild to cool summers. The prevailing wind is from the northwest (reversing at night due to southeasterly upslope winds). Average annual precipitation is 16 inches and the growing season in the region is approximately 94 days. Climatic information was collected from the Hayden Station, one mile away, and the Seneca II -W Mine, six miles south of the Loadout. More detailed climatic information can be found in Tab 8 of the PAP. Vegetation Baseline vegetation information is found in Tab 10, Exhibits 10-1 and 10-2 of the PAP. Land Use of the area is depicted on Exhibit 4-1. Existing vegetative communities within the permit area consist primarily of dryland pasture, improved pasturelands, and native rangelands. A detailed list of vegetation types is discussed in Tab 10 of the PAP. Pasturelands that were disturbed during construction of the Loadout have been revegetated to intermediate wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass, Russian wildrye, timothy, alfalfa, and yellow sweet clover. Undisturbed native rangelands are dominated by sagebrush, greasewood, and rubber rabbit brush communities. These latter plant species tend to be adapted to alkaline soils. T and T Tse Land use information is found in Tab 4 and Exhibit 4-1 of the PAP. Regional land use patterns are shown in Figure 1, Tab 4 of the PAP. Specific findings regarding land use are described in Section B, Item XI of this document. Land uses in the permit area and surrounding area are primarily agricultural, rangeland, industrial (a regional airport and Routt County maintenance facility), and wildlife habitat. Land is farmed along the north margin of the railroad spur and south of the Loadout facility, with winter wheat being the primary crop. Most of the disturbance associated with the construction of the Loadout occurred in areas historically utilized for crop production, but which were taken out of production and seeded with introduced grasses prior to the construction of the Loadout.